JPS completes investigation 2 weeks after girl hit by school bus

Jackson Public Schools has completed its investigation two weeks after a 4-year-old girl was hit by a school bus, which resulted in the loss of her foot.

The two bus drivers involved have been placed on administrative leave with pay, JPS said. The results of the investigation will not be released, but instead will go the district's legal department because of "anticipated pending litigation," according to a statement from JPS.

Nadya Slocum was hit by a Jackson Public Schools bus Nov. 16 in the 5000 block of Redmond Avenue. She had gotten off another school bus and was walking away when the second bus pulled around the first and hit her, authorities said.

"What we found was that there was some confusion that may have led to it," said Jackson police Sgt. Joseph Cotton. "The JPS bus driver stopped and waved her hand. The little girl thought that she was waving her to cross the street, while the driver of the bus behind her thought the (first bus) had broken down and (the driver) was waving her to come around. They both moved and the little girl was struck."

Cotton said no charges will be filed. Jackson Police Department officials have called the incident a "tragic accident."

Clifton Smith, Nadya's uncle, said the bus had not turned on the warning lights or deployed its stop sign when the Walton Elementary School student got off the bus.

"All I heard was hollering. She was on the ground," Smith said.

Nadya underwent surgery, but doctors were unable to save her foot. She spoke to 16 WAPT News Monday as she left the hospital in a wheelchair, with a pink cast covering her leg.

"My foot got ran over by a bus, and then my Uncle Cliff just picked me up, and he sat me in the chair, and the ambulance came to get me," Nadya said.

Nadya's mother said she wasn't sure when the little girl would be able to return to school.

JPS has not released the names of the bus drivers but said the school district will "take appropriate action based on the results of its own investigation."

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